They had a lunch special, Open Faced Road Beef. A generous helping of crispy-edged roast beef chunks atop two slices of bread, served with fries, all smothered in a pepper-laced gravy, plus a small fountain drink ($8). Very tender roast beef, with a good natural flavor that didn’t get overpowered by the gravy. Some of the fries were without gravy, but that’s a good thing because I’m a big fan of their homemade BBQ sauce.

I’ve had pit sandwiches from Smokey’s before, but never been there in person. The menu is limited and there’s a $10 minimum for credit cards, but the staff is friendly and service is quick. It’s a shack with a few indoor tables, clearly the result of their catering operation. The real spot is the picnic tables outside under a tent-like pavilion. If it’s a nice day and you want to eat outside, this is the place. Even though it was raining, we were still very comfortable. It’s great to be able to eat in the open air.

The roast beef isn’t exactly off the pit, but I figured I’d try something new. Glad I did.